Fri, 08 Dec 2017 13:17:11 -0800WeeblySat, 02 Dec 2017 15:52:57 GMThttp://paigebypage.weebly.com/home-paige/november-2017-wrap-upNovember is the first month in a while where I have managed to read a solid number of books. Ultimately, in the month of November I finished seven books, most of which were re-reads. However, due to the large amount of reading I did this month, I have a fighting chance at actually accomplishing my 2017 Reading Challenge of 43 books. Currently, I'm at 33 which means I'll have to devour ten books in the month of December. Which, given the amount of work I have in December is a little questionable, but I shall try nonetheless.

The first five books I read this month are all a part of the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Because I had read the first four books of the series years ago yet had never read the final book, I decided to just re-read the entire series so that I could finally read the fifth (and last) book of the series. Star Rating: I rated each of the five books with 3/5 StarsReason for Rating: When I had originally read the first four books, I had given them a higher rating (some at four stars and some at five). However, after re-reading the books I realized that they possess a lot of cliches and several elements I did not enjoy too much. I found myself skipping through a lot of the lovey-dovey romantic scenes because they got so old and repetitive by the end of the series. And, reflecting back on the books I can't clearly remember how it ended, demonstrating that the books are more for spur-of-the-moment fun than for substance. However, I still enjoy the strength of the main character, Katy, and the high-action present throughout the series. Who I would recommend to: Sci-fi lovers who are looking for a quick and easy series to read.

The next book I finished this month was November Nine by Colleen Hoover. When I decided that I just wanted a nice realistic-fiction romance novel to read, I almost immediately chose this book since it's been sitting on my shelves for a while and Colleen Hoover is pretty reliable. Star Rating: 3/5 Stars Reason for Rating: Although I was very captivated by the concept of this book, in which two people meet on one day a year every year for five years as they wait for the right time to fall in love, I have to say some elements disappointed me severely. I found myself slightly-disgusted in how the male protagonist, Ben, treated the female protagonist, Fallon, as he occasionally stated crude-remarks and seemingly pressured her to do things she clearly wasn't ready for. However, Colleen Hoover has released a statement clearing up some of the unsettling scenes, which slightly made up for it. Other than those elements, I found the book addicting and fast-paced. There were elements of mystery throughout the whole novel and numerous unexpected twists. In addition, the dynamic between Fallon and Ben was very captivating and their relationship development was extremely authentic. Who I would recommend this to: Romance readers who are looking for something a little different.

The final book I completed this month was A Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh. The concept of this book instantly interested me and caused it to jump to the top of my TBR the moment I read the synopsis on Goodreads. The novel is described as a fantastical, fairy-tale like, re-telling of Mulan, based in ancient Japan. My supreme fascination by Japanese history and culture in combination with my love for anything related to Disney, this book sounded absolutely perfect for me and I could not wait to pick it up.Star Rating: 4/5 StarsReason for Rating: I completely devoured this book, reading most of it in a single day. Not only did I find the main character, Mariko, highly intriguing but I found her inspirational and relatable as well. Throughout her whole life, Mariko has been deemed as "odd" due to her passion for knowledge and extreme curiosity, which weren't qualities that women typically made obvious. However, Mariko didn't shy away from her nature, but rather challenged people to accept it. Thus, Mariko, as a woman in a male-dominated era, stood up for herself and let her real character shine. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy Mariko's character, but the Japanese folklore elements sprinkled throughout the novel, and strong relationship development elevated the book to a higher level. In addition, the writing style which was somehow simple, intricate, and beautiful simultaneously kept me captivated and transported me throughout Mariko's journey. Although this book possessed numerous elements that I enjoyed immensely, I felt as if there was something missing in the novel. I can't think of what exactly it was missing, it just wasn't a meaningful enough book nor an all-consuming book that would have earned it five stars. Who I would recommend this to: Readers who love fairy-tale retellings and Japanese folklore.

- Paige J. xx

]]>Sat, 02 Dec 2017 14:30:39 GMThttp://paigebypage.weebly.com/home-paige/end-of-the-year-book-tag-2017-editionHonestly I cannot believe it is almost the end of another year. With only 29 days until 2018, I'm in complete and utter shock. 2018 was always a year that seemed ages away, however it continues to inch closer and closer to reality. In the year of 2018, I will turn eighteen years old, graduate from high school, and go to college. How completely insane is that???

Anyway, tangent over, it's time to get to the point of this post. I've seen a lot of people doing this "End of the Year" tag on BookTube and I thought it was a really nice way to reflect on the year thus far and launch into the end of the year.

So, without further delay, let's get on to the tag.

1. Are there any books you started this year you need to finish?The real question is are there any books I've started this year that I have finished. I have such an issue with starting a book, getting slightly bored or excited by another, and stopping midway through with the intention to return. However, often, I never actually return to the book in a timely fashion. So, yes, there have been quite a few partly-read books this year (in fact, I just had to clear out my currently-reading section on Goodreads so it wasn't as horribly shameful). My so-far unfinished books of 2017 include: Viciousby V.E. Schwab (166/368 pages) The Marvels by Brian Selznick (392/665 pages) Anna Kareninaby Leo Tolstoy (147/964 pages) Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (228/359 pages) The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker (93/486 pages)

I'm really hoping to finish at least two of these by the end of the year (especially The Golem and the Jinni and The Marvels). 2. Do you have a winter book to transition to the end of the year? I do not have one picked out yet, but I do hope to pick up one of my Christmas themed books sometime soon to set the mood for the month(: I'm thinking either Let it Snow by John Green or a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.3. Is there a new release you're still waiting for? Nope, since I'm on a book-buying ban and trying to avoid starting new series at the moment (so that I can finish off the ones I've already started) I honestly have no idea what books are coming out this month.

4. What are three books you want to read before the end of the year? 1. Stand-Off by Andrew Smith: This is the sequel to Winger, which I'm currently re-reading, that I initially read three years ago and loved. Because I loved Winger so much, I'm really hoping that Stand-Off has the same earth-shattering effect over me. 2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (illustrated version) by J.K. Rowling: I've been staring at the beautiful illustrations on the cover for ages and I would really love to get the full experience (you know, beyond just the cover). Plus, Christmas time is always perfect for a Harry Potter re-read. (:3. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman: I've been thoroughly craving something really really different. And, I think this book, which is a high sci-fi told through emails, security camera reports, etc will be more than sufficient to satisfy my craving.

5. Is there a book that you think could still shock you and become your FAVORITE???As you know from my response to the first question, I've already started The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. However, the reason I haven't finished it yet is because it started off a little slower than I would like, especially at a time in my life where I am extremely busy and can't read as often as I would like. However, I believe that if I commit myself to finishing it, it has a great chance to become one of my new favorites. The book is an adult urban-fantasy novel based in New York City around the turn of the twentieth century. In addition, it contains elements of ancient African and Middle-Eastern history. Further, it has the qualities of a magical fable. From its shared historical fiction and fantastical elements in combination with its fairy-tale like qualities and intricate writing, it has a definite shot at a place among my favorite books.

6. Have you already made reading plans for 2018? Besides continuing my book buying ban so that I can work on my massive TBR pile, I don't have any set reading plans for next year. I do hope to set a reading goal for each month so that I can dedicate myself to reading a little more than I have in 2016, but have no idea which books I will be tackling first.

Hope you enjoyed the short tag(: Let me know if you've read any of the books I mentioned & what books you're hoping to read by the end of the year!

- Paige J. xx

]]>Sat, 11 Nov 2017 19:51:57 GMThttp://paigebypage.weebly.com/home-paige/what-is-the-true-magic-behind-harry-potterThere is a boy who sits beside me in calculus, who has a new book resting in the top right corner of his desk every other day. Originally, I was envious of his ability to possess enough time to read that he could plow through so many pages daily. I watched with amusement, looking forward to see what he would read next.

Then, two weeks ago, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling appeared on his desk. Immediately, classmates began to speak to him, asking him who his favorite characters were, how many times he has read the entire series (a jaw-dropping ten by the way), and various other Harry Potter related questions. Even the math teacher would spend a fraction of his limited class time to discuss the plot and developments, pondering over the importance of certain characters and other elements of the series.

Watching everyone push past the typical people they spoke to within that class made me realize the sheer power of Harry Potter as a series. Throughout my life, ever since I originally started reading Harry Potter in the fourth grade, I established connections with people over the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. However, I had never really stepped back to realize the sheer ability of a series to transcend past divisions within communities, and pull people together.

Every year, I connect with my teachers, namely my English and Biology teachers, over our favorite Harry Potter books and the houses that we belong to. In fact, I have pressured each of my teachers into taking the "official" sorting hat quiz on Pottermore that was curated by J.K. Rowling herself. I have helped my tenth grade English teacher figure out her route for her first visit to Harry Potter World. I have brainstormed with my Molecular Biology teacher over ideas on how to replicate the Tri-Wizard tournament so that her kids could partake in it at her home. And, I have discussed the ways that Harry Potter reflects real-world issues in subtle ways with my fifth grade teacher, who I still visit from time to time.

In addition, I have created many friendships through a mutual love in the Harry Potter World. In fact, one of my best friends and I took an impromptu trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando last year for my sixteenth birthday. I have formed a "book squad" within my old field hockey team where we hosted Harry Potter themed dinners together and had marathons. Not only have I created friendships throughout my school and community through my love of Harry Potter, but I have established connections throughout the world in a similar way. I have friends who I discuss books with who live in Canada, Chicago, Great Britain, Germany, Texas, and the Philippines. If that doesn't show you Harry Potter's ability to draw connections between people that would not have previously existed, then I don't know what would.

This year, as a President of the English Honors Society, I even used this ability for Harry Potter to establish connections to motivate the members of the society. At the beginning of the year, I asked each of them to disclose their Harry Potter house in a survey. Then, I told them that the Hogwarts house with the most EHS hours by the end of the year, wins the EHS "Hogwarts House Cup," and would win a prize. Then, when I created the tutoring schedules I paired people with others in their house, so they can get to know each other. By doing this, I unknowingly used the ability of Harry Potter to band people together as a motivation tactic.

The one boy who is still deep into his eleventh re-read of the Harry Potter series is what catalyzed this realization for me. Harry Potter, a character that originated in the imagination of a single woman, possesses the staggering ability to unify people across friend groups, age groups, state lines, and country lines. And that ability is what truly makes the series magical. ]]>Thu, 22 Jun 2017 18:26:32 GMThttp://paigebypage.weebly.com/home-paige/review-eliza-and-her-monsters-by-f-zappia

I finished this book in one sitting. Quite literally. I started it in bed, and finished it in bed a few hours later. Admittedly, considering the fact that I've been home sick all week, this task wasn't hard as people have kept me herded in my room out of fear of catching whatever "disease" I have (tomorrow, I expect my brother to nail my door shut). Anyway, back to the point. I finished this book in one sitting, and it took me completely by surprise.

I received this book in the May OwlCrate a few weeks ago, read the synopsis, and brushed it aside to read later. I had expected this book to be just another average girl meets boy love story. But, to me at least, it was so much more. For the most part, I think the reason this book resonated with me so much is because of the sheer amount of aspects of this book that I related to. But, we'll get to that later.

We follow the main character, Eliza, throughout her struggle to balance her online life (as a prolific and successful comic book writer) and her off-screen life, as a socially awkward girl struggling through high school. The way that Eliza interacted with her surroundings, her emotions, and her actions made her seem so real. Zappia managed to craft a character that did not seem dramatized for the benefit of the story, but so real that I felt I could actually reach out and hug her. With the way that Zappia wrote Eliza, I understood everything she was going through with perfect clarity; sometimes, I even felt like I was going through it myself. Throughout the novel, Eliza went through immense growth as she endured both the highs of life, and the very lowest lows. I watched as Eliza crumbled, and watched the pieces come together. Nothing was rushed. Like I said, Eliza was real. And that was one of the reasons this book was so special.

Enter Wallace. He’s painfully shy (to the point where he can’t speak out loud when surrounded by more than a few people), built like a football player, and extremely mysterious. And, to make matters even more interesting, he is the most popular fanfiction writer for Eliza’s online comic. Throughout the book, we watch as Wallace and Eliza (two highly introverted beings) fall for one another, learn to trust, and reveal their true colors. Their relationship grows realistically, which means that along with perfections, flaws exist as well. Wallace added so much to this novel as you watch a boy learn to create happiness after experiencing the worst horrors in life. Wallace not only inspired me to be the best person I could be, but to seek out what I love and make sure I dedicate a significant amount of my time to that passion.

Now, to get to the aspects that I related to. Wallace and Eliza are both so passionate about writing and art (respectively), which inspired me throughout to get back to my true passions: reading and writing. Recently, I’ve fallen into a reading slump, and this book resurrected me. Reading about Eliza’s inspirations in every-day life and all-consuming desire to lose herself in her story reminded me how much I love writing. And, after finishing this book, I immediately started brainstorming a new story I want to work on. In addition, Eliza’s life is based almost solely online (especially before Wallace came in the picture). Although I am not quite as absorbed by the internet as she was, a large part of my life exists online as well. For example, my book blog, my book instagram, the YouTubers I watch religiously, my favorite Netflix shows, etc. Throughout my time as a member of the book community, I have established amazing connections throughout the world and established important friendships with people I never would have met if the internet did not exist. I have friends that live across the United States, from California to Illinois to Texas and so on. And, even some across international borders in Canada, the Philippines, etc. In this aspect, I related with Eliza and her internet friends and the special bond they’ve augmented that Eliza’s parents had a tough time understanding, as my parents struggle to understand as well. In addition, Eliza dealt with anxiety and panic attacks throughout the book. To watch Eliza struggle to understand the condition she deals with and come to terms with it was truly amazing, and it added to building Eliza into more of a human (rather than a fictional character). This aspect of Eliza’s character especially resonated with me as I deal with the same condition she does. Granted, I don’t have the same kind of anxiety as her, but it still felt nice to be reassured that I am not the only one.

Overall, the character development was stellar in this book in addition to the relationship development. The underlying themes of coming to terms with the presence of technology in modern day society, learning to trust, to love yourself, and to discover your true passions made this book go above and beyond your typical teen love story. I found myself anticipating certain events throughout the book (no spoilers) that kept me devouring the book without stopping. Although the writing was pretty average, some of the quotes were truly beautiful (will include below). Due to the fact that I related to so many aspects of this book it truly did resonate with me. I won’t forget this book.

I ended up giving this book a 4.5/ 5 stars due to the excellent character development and the relatability of this novel. I took off a fraction of a star because of the average writing and the slow beginning. I do recommend this book to all YA and contemporary lovers.

Quote I love: "For every sea filled with monsters, there is a sky full of stars."

- Paige J. xx

]]>Mon, 29 May 2017 23:07:25 GMThttp://paigebypage.weebly.com/home-paige/may-2017-wrap-upOverall, this was a very successful reading month for me. I dove into a new series that is highly addicting and entertaining, and read some highly anticipated books as well. However, this sudden urge to devour book after book interfered quite a bit with my studying schedules for my exams so that was a bit of a problem but that's the price of being a bibliophile. All of the reading I did this month put me ahead in my reading schedule to complete the 2017 reading challenge goal(::

The first book that I read this month was of course A Court of Wings and Ruin by the amazing Sarah J. Maas. I had waited ten long months for this book and I think it's safe to say that my need for Rhysand has been fulfilled (although I wouldn't complain about an extra few books with him). Star Rating: 5/5 Stars Reason for Rating: Do I really need to explain this? It's Sarah J. Maas, no explanation is needed. Who I would recommend this to: Any and all high fantasy/ YA readers.

The next few books that I read this month were AP review books for the tests I had throughout the first two weeks of May. I will not be discussing them any further as I would greatly enjoy never having to think about them ever again.

After watching my favorite BookTuber discuss the Poison Study series, I decided to order the first book. Let's just say, this series is immensely addicting and I read the first three books in about a week (which meant I also avoided studying for my AP exams in doing so.... whoops). Star Rating: 4/5 StarsReason for Rating: Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder is immensely addicting, action-packed, and full of character and relationship growth. However, the writing isn't all that it could be and I just felt like a little something was missing in the writing. For these reasons, I gave this book 4 stars instead of five. Who I would recommend this to: Due to the fact that this book broached sensitive subjects and focused mostly on the main character's growth and strength (rather than a large love focus) I would say that this book is more mature and leaning on the border between YA and adult. Therefore, I would recommend this to more seasoned fantasy lovers who are looking for an addictive series to jump into. Bonus story about this book: I was reading this lovely book in my AP Psychology class and my friend who sat beside me initiated the following conversation: Him: "Poison Study? What's that about?"Me: "I don't really know yet, I'm only 15 pages in."Him: "Wait... you're reading that for fun? Not for a class?"Me: "Yeah?"Him: "That's an interesting topic..."THIS MAN THOUGHT I WAS LEGITIMATELY READING A NON-FICTION BOOK ON DIFFERENT POISONS???? I've never died more in my life.

The next book that I read in between the first and second books of the Poison Study series was The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli. I received this book in the April OwlCrate book box(: Star Rating: 3/5 StarsReason for Rating: I read this book in one day. I went into this book kind of wary because I wasn't sure about the synopsis, however it completely took me by surprise. It not only tackled issues present in the life of every awkward teenager, but it also included a wide diversity of characters which is essential in modern-day novels. This book was a really fun and easy contemporary to read through quickly (providing a nice little hiatus from my current fantasy phase). Although this book was a nice contemporary, that's all it was. It didn't really have any elements in it that I would remember after a few months, which is the reason it only earned three stars out of five. Who I would recommend this to: Lovers of contemporary books who are looking for a diverse and light-hearted read.

The next book that I read during May is one I also finished in one day, which was the second book in the Poison Study series, Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder. Star Rating: 4/5 StarsReason for Rating: Honestly, since I read three (and a quarter) books from this series throughout this month I can't really remember each book specifically as the plot is just running together. However, I do remember that this book was more action-packed than the first and just as fast-paced. I did start to have a problem with the main character, Yelena, in this book as she is very impulsive and runs into issues quickly (even if it isn't the smartest thing to do). However, the character development and realistic relationship growth was phenomenal. Who I would recommend this to: Again, I would recommend this to mature fantasy lovers.

Finally, the last book that I completed in May was the third book in the Poison Study series, Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder.Star Rating: 3/5 StarsReason for Rating: I know what you are all thinking, why did I give this book a lower rating than the previous books in the series? Well, the problem that I was beginning to have with the main character in the second book became more pronounced in this third installment. She became far too headstrong and impulsive when she could have met less harm by simply enlisting the help of those close to her. In addition, I felt that things became a little more predictable in this novel. Overall, I still love the story but this book contained a few more flaws than the previous books. Who I would recommend this to: Fantasy lovers.

Stay tuned for my June TBR! (:

- Paige Jones xx

]]>Thu, 18 May 2017 17:22:18 GMThttp://paigebypage.weebly.com/home-paige/the-harry-potter-spells-book-tagSo guys, I have great news. I have finally completed all of my AP exams for this year!!! Do you know what that means? I'm less stressed, I have more time for reading, more time for writing, and more time for blogging! So hello, I am back. In other news, I got my second Owlcrate book box today!!! I don't think there is anything better than looking out on your porch and seeing that beautiful box sitting there basking in the sun.

​Anyway, I decided to commemorate the fact that I'm done with my exams with a fun little tag. So without a further a due, here it is.

1. Expecto Patronum (a childhood book connected to good memories) With this one, I'm going to have to go with Harry Potter. I know, I know, it's a cliche. But it's the truth. I remember when I was reading this series for the first time in elementary school at the same time my cousin was reading it for her first time. When we were both visiting my grandparents' lake house, we would lay out on the hammock together reading Harry Potter. I also took my Harry Potter book to the various sleep away summer camps and I remember staying up past curfew in my cot, reading with a flashlight hoping Harry would win his Quidditch match(:

2. Expelliarmus (a book that took you by surprise) After looking over the books on my bookshelf, I'm going to go with Winger by Andrew Smith. I'm pretty sure I went into Winger knowing close to nothing about it, having picked it up only due to a recommendation. Winger is written in a completely different writing style than what I typically read, which is why I was skeptical going into it. However, as the spell delineates, this book completely took me by surprise. I found myself moved by the writing and the plot line. Not to mention the fact that this book mutilated a part of my heart.

3. Prior Incantanto (the last book you read) Besides the review books I've been binge reading to study, the last book I read was Magic Study by Marisa V. Snyder. Magic Study is the sequel to Poison Study, which is a highly addictive and compelling fantasy series I started reading this month.

4. Alohamora (a book that introduced you to a genre you had not considered before) Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys introduced me into the beautiful world of historical fiction. This book opened my eyes not only to a whole new genre I hadn't given much thought to, but it taught me about historical events I had never really considered before. Since I read this book my interest in largely marginalized historical phenomenons has increased tenfold, as well as my love for historical fiction.

5. Riddikulus(a funny book you've read) I'm not really known to read funny books so I'm just going to go with one I've been reading off and on for a year now, which is Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh. This book is witty, hilarious, and the drawings are great. I love taking a break from my life and indulging in one of Brosh's humorous and semi-inspiring tales.

6.Sonorus(a book you think everyone should know about) I'm not going to default to one of my favorite books for this category, rather I'm going to choose a book I think is important for everyone to read. I choose The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas because I believe it is extremely important for people to read in order to get a more informed prospective on events in African American prejudice today. I read this book a couple of months ago and I think it is essential, meaningful, and extremely brilliant. Check out my spoiler-free review here.

7. Obliviate (a book or spoiler you would like to forget having read)I haven't really been spoiled on many things, but one thing I do wish is that I went into Harry Potter without knowing anything. I wish that every twist and turn took me by complete surprise, instead of knowing that some of them were going to happen.

8. Imperio(a book you had to read for school) There are a lot of books that I had to read for school that I loved, and some that I ended up disliking greatly. However, one of the many books I've read for school holds a special place on my bookshelves as one of my favorite books of all time. The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien changed the game for me. The writing was so complex and rich with figurative language, the idea that the author pulled on true events from his life but the reader never knew what was fiction or reality, and the raw emotion in the book made it one of the best and most impactful books I've ever read.

9. Crucio (a book that was painful to read) There are several books throughout my reading experience that I've had to DNF, however one stands out above the rest. Dead End by Jason Myers is the winner of this category, as I could barely force myself through the first few chapters of this book.

10. Avada Kedavra (a book that could kill) There are just simply too many books I could stick in this category for me to make a decision. I'm sorry, but I read a lot of books that almost kill me.

11. Accio(a book that you'd always like to have with you) I'm going to have to give this one to A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas. This book was so immensely epic and game changing that if I could carry it around with me all the time and turn to my favorite scenes whenever I could, I would. Plus, it wouldn't hurt to have Rhys by my side at all times.

A friend of mine has been recommending this to me for a while now which ultimately made it end up on my 2016 Christmas wishlist. For several months it sat upon my shelves with it's beautiful cover staring me down. The other day, I decided to look up the plot and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the storyline of this novel was completely different than what I thought it was. Once I found out I had another historical fiction by Ruta in my possession, I almost immediately picked it up to read.

The main premise of this book is the tragic bombing of the Wilhelm Gustloff ship which occurred in the Baltic Sea on January 30, 1945. Following three strikes by Russian torpedos, the large ship sank into the freezing waters of the Baltic Sea, bringing down over 10,000 passengers (who were fleeing from the looming Red Army) down with it. This event truly did occur, however many people are unaware of it. That is what I find so amazing about Ruta. She writes about largely forgotten events in history to educate the masses about thousands of lives lost that shouldn't be forgotten. She gives the 9,400 people who drowned in the Baltic Sea a voice after theirs has long since disappeared.

Not only is the premise of the book amazing, but the characters are as well. Salt to the Sea follows four different perspectives, two boys and two girls, each in the teenage to young adult years of their lives. However, since this book takes place in World War II Europe, their circumstances are far from normal. Each character is extremely complex and original. I could immediately tell you which perspective I was reading from even without reading the name at the top of the page due to their distinct ways of thinking and personalities. And, when all their stories started to weave together, I was captivated in seeing how they would interact, and what they thought of one another. In addition, I don't think that any of the perspectives were lacking. Each character was necessary in fully instilling the impact of this novel into the reader as we became attached to certain characters and appalled by others. The fact that I was constantly trying to crack each of the characters' secrets they attempted to cover kept me on the edge of my seat as I waited (rather impatiently) for everything to unfold.

Ruta uses very short chapters in this novel which kept it very fast paced. I managed to finish this book in a day, that's how quickly it flew by. Ruta's superb writing style and use of mystery kept me intrigued throughout the whole thing. Plus, the setting of World War II Europe kept things dangerous and action-packed. I am not going to lie, this book did make me tear up as Ruta highlights the mass amounts of death and tragedy that occurred during the war. Even civilians were treated with unimaginable brutality by soldiers of both the Russian and the German front of the war. It made me realize how lucky I am to be so safe in my suburban town in the United States. I am sheltered and protected from wars that are occurring in other countries, that other children and teenagers don't have the same blessing to be safe from. My heart goes out to them.

I learned a lot from this novel. I, like many others, had never heard of the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff carrying so many civilians and children of the war. Now, I feel the need to ask and tell everyone about it. These innocent people who died on the boat deserve to be remembered just as we remember those who died upon the Titanic and the Lusitania.

Overall, I gave this book a 4.75/5 Stars. It is extremely interesting, fast-paced, and heartbreaking. I recommend this to everyone (especially historical fiction lovers).

]]>Sat, 25 Mar 2017 06:00:02 GMThttp://paigebypage.weebly.com/home-paige/review-the-hate-u-give-by-angie-thomasWords cannot express how truly important this book is in modern society. Especially now. With the controversial election of Donald Trump as the new United States President, racial issues are running high and riots are springing out across the nation as people turn against one another. Not to mention the high rates of police brutality clearly evident within the past year. The Baltimore riots in 2015 highlight these issues evident in society. And it was time that someone broke away from the classic mold of books and tackled these issues as Angie Thomas so masterfully did.

The Hate U Give follows a teenage girl, Starr, who is the only witness of the murder of her childhood best friend by the hands of a white police officer. We then follow Starr through her struggle to grieve the untimely death of her good friend while she becomes a braver person and stands up for what is right.

This book was simply astounding. I am currently writing this review at 2:08 a.m. after just completing the book. And I will say, the ending had my eyes watering.

Thomas managed to portray significant character development throughout the novel as readers witness Starr's transformation from a girl scared to speak out about her friend's death into a full-blown activist. Not only that, but Thomas doesn't shy away from Starr's imperfections. We see Starr struggle to not see along the lines of color as her boyfriend and some of her good friends are white. In addition, we see Starr come to terms with her own false assumptions that she held against Khalil as well. Watching Starr discover who she is and what she believes slowly and realistically was not only amazing but extremely powerful as well. In addition, Thomas made sure to point out that prejudice and racism can appear in many different forms, some more subtle than others (ehm, Hailey, ehm) but that no form should be tolerated. Although I have never experienced the same kind of prejudice that minorities deal with on a daily basis, I felt what Starr was feeling throughout this whole book. And that is what makes this book so important. People who don't understand need to look through the eyes of Starr in order to see what is really going on in society today.

Although this book was very long, 444 pages, every single moment was essential. I was never bored, never looking to see when the end of the chapter was coming, which goes to show the masterful writing skill that Thomas possesses. Thomas takes us through every aspect of Starr's life, giving a fair amount of time to her family life, her school life, her love life, her relationships with her friends, and what is going on in Starr's mind. And for once, I'm not left feeling that there should've been something a little more. Everything was well-rounded, which helped me engross myself into Starr's life all the better.

Although I am well aware of what is going on in the world, all the injustice that occurs on a daily basis and the prejudice which fills the minds of so many, this book helped me gain a deeper understanding. And for that, I want to thank Thomas from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for telling this story, because I really really believe that it could make a difference. It's going to change the way people see things, the way people think. And honestly, with the way society is currently deteriorating, we need a change.

This book isn't only about the prejudice and discrimination clearly evident in our society. It's about a strong family dynamic, and struggling to choose what's right over what's less brave or more convenient. It's about finding who your true friends are and being able to say goodbye to those who aren't always there to support you. It's about rising above and doing what's right. And all of these themes is what makes this book so special. Somehow, Thomas managed to teach me so many lessons within a span of 444 pages.

Read this book. Then recommend it to your friends, your family, shout it from the rooftops. Because this book needs to be read. People need to hear Starr's voice.

"And to every kid in Georgetown and in all 'the Gardens' of the world: your voices matter, your dreams matter, your lives matter. Be roses that grow in the concrete." - Angie Thomas

A 5/5 star book for sure. I recommend this to anyone and everyone. ]]>Fri, 24 Mar 2017 17:35:37 GMThttp://paigebypage.weebly.com/home-paige/march-wrap-upThe end of yet another month of 2017(: Is it just me or is this year passing like the speed of light? Life really needs to slow down in my opinion. This month I managed to claw my way out of my February book slump and it feels great(: Also, another exciting bookish thing that occurred this month is the beginning of my bookstagram book club that I managed to form with a few lovely people. We are open to new people so if you're up for reading pretty much anything and have an instagram account, feel free to let me know that you want to join and you're in! Without a further ado here is my March 2017 Wrap- Up.

The first book I finished this month was Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics is Fueling Our Modern Plagues by Martin J. Blaser Star Rating: 3/5 StarsReason for rating: I gave this book only 3/5 stars because although I found the information within the novel very interesting and eye-opening, Blaser could be very repetitive and by the end of the book that got a bit old. But, Blaser included some very interesting metaphors and stories from his life and from others which kept me engaged. Plus, through this book I might've discovered my calling in life(: Check out the blog on antibiotic resistance I wrote for my AP Language class here. Who I would recommend this to: I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in current issues and/or biological sciences.

The next book I completed in March was Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven Star Rating: 3.75/5 Stars Reason for rating: Niven managed to include a book with very unique characters that had amazing character development. However, I felt that the relationship development was somewhat lacking and that there could have been a little something more to this book that could've helped it receive a higher rating. If you want to read my full non-spoiler review click here. ​Who I would recommend this to: I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading the YA/ contemporary genre who enjoys reading about character growth as they overcome humongous obstacles. This would be a perfect book for a somewhat light and quick read.

The next book I read in March was The Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard Star Rating: 3.75/5 Stars Reason for Rating: Going into this book was an interesting experience as it is the second book in the Red Queen trilogy and I honestly did not remember anything from the first book (which I read two years ago) except for the last scene. So, after reading a quick summary of the first book on Wikepedia and struggling through the first fifty pages, I was finally able to immerse myself in the book. This book's plot line was very exciting, especially since it's been a while since I last read a fantasy book. Although there were many unique characters and exciting twists, I found this book a little lacking. Mare, the main character, began to annoy me with how emotionless she has become and how she seemed to mope constantly. The same types of scenarios continued to occur and it got very repetitive and perturbing to me. I already purchased the third book, The King's Cage, so hopefully it's better! Who I would recommend this to: Readers who love YA and fantasy, who are looking for an exciting plot line to immerse themselves into!

Another book I read this month was The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (the bookstagram book club's first read!) Star Rating: 5/5 StarsReason for Rating: This book was simply amazing. Within less than 500 pages Thomas was able to make me feel so engrossed into Starr's life. I knew who her friends were, what the drama was, her strong family dynamic, her love life, and her internal battles within herself to do what's right instead of what's easy. Thomas effectively makes the reader as if they are Starr which allows her to convey her message on police brutality and discrimination so well. Check out my full non-spoiler review by clicking here.Who I would recommend this to: I want as many people as possible to read this so I would recommend it to everyone. This book is extremely important. However, if you are a parent wondering if this book is appropriate for your child, make sure that your child is old enough to be able to understand what is going on as they will most definitely have questions about discrimination. In addition, there is some profanity in this novel and very little sexual moments.

And finally, the book I've been reading most recently is The King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard. I was meant to finish it this week but I have been really busy and not feeling well (I have strep throat, a sinus infection, and a 104 degree fever currently). This is the third book in the Red Queen series. I thought this was the last book in the series but turns out there is another after this book. I just hope that doesn't mean the book is going to be too drawn out but we shall see. I'm currently on page 403 out of 528(: So far, I'm enjoying this a lot more than the second book in the series.

]]>Thu, 23 Mar 2017 03:32:04 GMThttp://paigebypage.weebly.com/home-paige/a-note-on-wastefulness Disclaimer: This blog post will be very different from my typical posts, I just experienced something today that made me want to burst from how wasteful people within my society are. In addition, I am not saying in any way that I have not been wasteful in my life. I have and I know I have. But, it needs to stop. And I need to say something.

For the past few years I have been paying more and more attention to the people around me and have managed to notice things that make my skin crawl. In particular, the extreme wastefulness that occurs around me on a daily basis. I am one of five kids in my family, so my parents buy a lot of food to prepare our meals. But, they buy in such surplus that it is impossible for us to consume all of it. Massive amounts of meat, vegetables, and starches go straight to the trash can. So, why do we continue to buy in bulk? Why don't we remember the instances in which we purchased three racks of ribs and only consumed two? Why do we make two trays of oven-prepared french fries when we can only consume one? The standards for the food quantity we purchase can be severely altered. We could halve the portions of food we purchase and still have enough for us to have a modest portion. Further, if we do have leftovers it is completely possible for us to save most of it as leftovers and allocate the next few dinners to leftovers. It honestly tears me up to see so much go to waste. Every time I help clean up after dinner and my parents ask me to scrap the remaining food into the trashcans guilt surges through my veins.

You might be wondering what event set me on this tangent today. What prompted me, after years of living in a household with too much food, to write this post today? Well, one of my best friends continues to exhibit the most severe case of wastefulness I have ever had the displeasure to witness. It is tradition at my high school to bring baked goods for your friend's birthday so that they can carry it around all day and everyone will know that they are celebrating another year of life. Naturally, for my friend's birthday my friends and I brought her boxes of doughnuts, trays of cookies, and containers filled with chewy brownies. Today, in our third period class, she told me that she went home that day, grabbed a trash bag, and threw all of her baked goods into the trash. Having only consumed the few desserts she could during the seven hour school day, she took all that remained and just threw it away without a second thought. I couldn't control the disgust and anger that made my blood boil the moment she disclosed that information to me.

"That's so wasteful! Why would you ask us all to bring you stuff for your birthday if you're just going to turn around and throw it away? We spent money on that and you just wasted it."

This was my automatic response. To which she quickly called me annoying and told me to shut up. Which I certainly did not deserve but my anger with her as a person is not the point of this post. The point is that people who surround me in my life clearly show little regard for the consequences of their actions. The point is that all of those baked goods could have been given to somebody who would actually eat them, as they were intended to be, rather than tossed away like it's trash.

I know, from experience, that there are hungry people surrounding all of us. Every time I visit my grandparents in North Carolina I help my Grandpa on his food truck. We start out early in the morning, while the rest of my family slumbers soundly in their beds, and set out to many different grocery stores in the area. We then enter through the backdoor and collect the shopping carts worth of food that they allocated for our food truck. Hundreds of baguettes, cakes, slabs of meat, carrot sticks, and so on are then sorted, weighed, and heaved into the back of the refrigerated truck. After a long day of bouncing between grocery stores, we head to the food bank where the workers, smiles wide and eyes bright, happily accept all that we collected for them.

So, yes, I know that the food my best friend tossed away like yesterday's trash had extreme value. Which is why I am so unbelievably irked.

Society needs to realize how everything we take for granted could be extremely valuable in other areas and to people with a different lifestyle. I urge you to look around and notice the same instances of wastefulness that will be present in your life as well. And I hope you can find a way to initiate change so that more people can be aided and less will go to waste.

Ever since I started working with my Grandpa on his food truck, an idea has lingered in the back of my mind about the prospect of raising enough money to start something similar in my area. But, I always deemed it to be too far out of reach. Now, my mind is changed. I need to do something because otherwise the guilt of remaining a bystander to wastefulness will begin to tear me up from the inside out.

Please, if you have any ideas on how to reduce the waste that occurs on a daily basis in modern day society reach out to me. Or, if you just want to discuss I am completely open to your opinions or ideas.

I hope you didn't mind the different type of post here. I just really needed an outlet to express myself. I hope I managed to open your minds to something that you might not have noticed before.